⚠️ U.S. AND LEBANON SECURITY POSTURE: The U.S. State Department said it ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members from Lebanon on February 23 due to the security situation in Beirut. It said terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Lebanon and that the travel advisory remains at Level 4, “Do Not Travel.”
Israel Hayom reports that, amid fears of war, hundreds of U.S. citizens have left Lebanon following the directive.
⚠️ IRAN-BACKED MILITIA WARNING: Abu Ali al-Askari, spokesman for the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah, warned Kurds in the region not to get involved in any military conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
‼️ ISRAELI SECURITY CONSULTATIONS ON IRAN: Prime Minister Netanyahu is holding security consultations regarding the latest developments in the Iranian arena, according to Channel 13. Participants include Mossad Chief David Barnea, Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, AMAN Chief Shlomi Binder, and other senior officials.
Israeli defense officials are demanding a multi-billion-dollar budget increase in preparation for another campaign against Iran.
♟️ U.S. ATTACK PREPARATIONS AND DECISION POINT: A senior Israeli security official told Channel 14 that the U.S. has completed preparations for a possible attack on Iran and that the decision now lies with the White House. The official added that if the U.S. attacks Iran, it would leave the Islamic Republic with limited options, including the possibility of surrender.
🗣️ U.S. INTERNAL DEBATE AND TRUMP RESPONSE: Axios reports that Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine has been advising President Trump and senior officials that a military campaign against Iran could carry significant risks, including the possibility of becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict and American casualties.
President Trump denied reports that Gen. Dan Caine is opposed to a war with Iran.
💢 LIMITED STRIKE OPTIONS AND ESCALATION RISK: CBS News reports that President Trump is frustrated by the limited military options available against Iran. Advisers warned that even targeted strikes would likely not be decisive and could escalate into a broader, prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
⚠️ ISRAELI GLOBAL MEASURES: An Israeli official told Al-Hadath: “We are considering evacuating several embassies. We have raised the alert level at our embassies in Europe, the Far East, and Latin America. We have asked former senior defense officials and civil servants to return to the country as soon as possible”.
🪧 PAHLAVI CALLS FOR DEFECTIONS: Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah, called on members of the Iranian military, law enforcement, security forces, and government agencies to defect.
🍕 PENTAGON PIZZA INDEX COMMENT: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, commenting on X about accounts tracking Pentagon pizza orders to predict possible military action against Iran, said: “I order pizza on random nights just to throw everybody off. On a Friday night, when you see a lot of Domino's orders, I might just be messing around in the app, confusing the entire system”.
The comment referenced the online “Pentagon Pizza Index” meme, a long-circulating OSINT theory that pizza-delivery spikes near the Pentagon precede U.S. military action, which the Pentagon has never confirmed.
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